How Did The Brutalist Use AI? Controversy Explained

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Interested in the debate swirling around the movie titled “The Brutalist” and its link to AI? This film, renowned for its artistic richness, has ignited passionate arguments about its technological aspects, causing viewers to ponder the limits of innovation in cinematic creation.

Let’s explore how Artificial Intelligence influenced The Brutalist, understand why it’s causing debate, and learn about the insights the filmmakers have shared regarding its application.

Where was AI used in The Brutalist?

David Jancsó, the editor of “The Brutalist”, disclosed that the filmmakers utilized Artificial Intelligence in two primary aspects: enhancing the Hungarian dialogues and constructing visual components for a crucial scene.

In this project, the production utilized Respeecher, an advanced deep learning technique, to refine the Hungarian pronunciation of actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. As Jancsó pointed out, given that Hungarian is known for being one of the hardest languages to master when it comes to pronunciation, this step was essential even for Brody, who is a child of a Hungarian refugee. (As reported by Red Shark News)

At the Venice Biennale exhibition, artificial intelligence was employed to produce architectural sketches and images for a fictional architect named László Tóth. Jancsó explained, “We employed AI to add intricate details that we couldn’t film due to budget constraints or time limitations.” The team experimented with Automatic Dialogue Replacement (ADR) and voice swapping with different actors, but they failed to achieve the desired outcome.

Why are people angry with The Brutalist’s AI usage?

The dispute arose following Jancsó’s interview gaining widespread attention, as critics claimed that the movie was compromising its artistic authenticity.

Numerous individuals contend that applying AI for accent improvement and visuals diminishes the authenticity of an actor’s skillset. Critics further assert that it lessens job prospects for artists and vocal specialists. These apprehensions echoed similar concerns during the 2023 Hollywood strikes, where apprehension about AI displacing creative professionals was prevalent.

Critics accused The Brutalist of reportedly employing AI instead of visual artists and altering actors’ accents, which some deemed as disrespectful to “the core principles of… acting.” One social media user quipped, “The Brutalist utilizing generative AI is quite amusing because A) It’s being promoted as a groundbreaking production on a budget under $10 million B) It’s a movie about the personal sacrifices and dedication to an art form and its preservation.

Director Brady Corbet addressed the criticism, stating that they employed AI mainly to polish dialogue and visual aspects. However, he assured everyone that the actors’ original performances were carefully preserved in their work.

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2025-01-22 08:40